Conduit fitting with pull-up indication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9562635-B2
Application number	US-201414509505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2014
Priority date	Apr 22, 2004
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A fitting for a tube or pipe capable of functioning a high pressures having a first fitting component adapted to receive the conduit end; a conduit gripping device such as a ferrule or ferrules and a second fitting component that can be joined to the first fitting component to cause the conduit gripping device to grip the conduit and seal when assembled. In one aspect of the invention, the first fitting component is constructed from a material that is softer than the material used to construct the second fitting component. An additional aspect of the invention include a retaining portion on the second fitting component that constrains the tube gripping device against pressure. The retaining portion can also be configured to retain the tube gripping device to the second fitting component prior to installation and in a finger-tight condition. A further aspect of the invention includes a first fitting component in which an exterior portion of the component is work hardened radially outward from the tube gripping device. The fitting may optionally be provided with a structure to effect the pull-up by torque functionality.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conduit fitting, comprising:
a first fitting component adapted to receive a conduit end along a central axis; a conduit gripping device;
a second fitting component that can be joined to said first fitting component, said second fitting component comprising a portion that engages a tapered surface of said first fitting component when the conduit fitting is pulled up;
said second fitting component comprising a socket that receives said conduit gripping device, said engagement providing radial constraint of said conduit gripping device,
wherein said first fitting component comprises a first tapered surface and a second tapered surface, with a step that joins said first tapered surface and said second tapered surface, said second tapered surface comprising said tapered surface that engages said portion of said second fitting component when the conduit fitting is pulled up.

2. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said second fitting component radially constrains said conduit gripping device after the conduit fitting is pulled up.

3. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said conduit gripping device comprises a front ferrule and a back ferrule.

4. The conduit fitting of claim 2 wherein said socket retains said back ferrule and at least a portion of said front ferrule.

5. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said engagement between said portion of said second fitting component and said first fitting component tapered surface radially constrains said second fitting component and said conduit gripping device.

6. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said engagement between said portion of the second fitting component and said tapered surface of the first fitting component causes the amount of torque required to continue pulling-up the conduit fitting to sharply increase.

7. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said first fitting component comprises a camming surface that engages said conduit gripping device when the conduit fitting is pulled up, and said engagement between said portion of the second fitting component and said tapered surface of the first fitting component occurs after said conduit gripping device engages said ferrule camming surface.

8. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said first fitting component and said second fitting component are threadably joined together when the conduit fitting is pulled up.

9. The conduit fitting if claim 1 wherein said second fitting component comprises a socket, said socket comprising a drive surface that contacts a driven surface of said conduit gripping device when the conduit fitting is in a finger-tight position, said socket comprising a tapered surface that radially constrains said conduit gripping device when the conduit fitting is pulled up.

10. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said engagement between said portion of said second fitting component and said tapered surface of said first fitting component allows the conduit fitting to be pulled up by a torque applied between said first fitting component and said second fitting component.

11. The conduit fitting of claim 10 wherein said torque causes a relative axial displacement between said first fitting component and said second fitting component past a finger tight position and that corresponds to a completed pull-up of the conduit fitting.

12. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said second tapered surface and said second fitting component portion each have an axial length and are radially tapered relative to the central axis.

13. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said step surface comprises a radial step.

14. The conduit fitting of claim 5 wherein said conduit gripping device comprises a front ferrule and a back ferrule.

15. The conduit fitting of claim 9 wherein said conduit gripping device comprises a front ferrule and a back ferrule.

16. A conduit fitting, comprising:
a first fitting component adapted to receive a conduit end along a central axis;
a conduit gripping device;
a second fitting component that can be joined to said first fitting component, said second fitting component comprising a portion that engages a tapered surface of said first fitting component when the conduit fitting is pulled up;
said second fitting component comprising a socket that receives said conduit gripping device, said engagement providing radial constraint of said conduit gripping device,
wherein said first fitting component comprises a ferrule camming surface, said conduit gripping device comprises a front ferrule and a back ferrule, and said first fitting component tapered surface and said ferrule camming surface are surfaces formed on the first fitting component and are stepped from each other in a radially extending direction.

Assignees

• Swagelok Co

Inventors

• Williams Peter C
• Berry Tobin
• Carlson George A
• Marshall Andrew P
• Clason Mark A
• Bennett Mark A
• Moghe Sanjeev S

Classifications

• F16L19/06 Primary

  in which radial clamping is obtained by wedging action on non-deformed pipe ends · CPC title

• F16L15/04

  with additional sealings · CPC title

• F16L19/045 Primary

  consisting of cutting edges on one of the connecting parts which penetrate into the wall of the pipe · CPC title

• F16L19/103

  with more than one ring per pipe end being used · CPC title

• F16L19/061

  a pressure ring being arranged between the clamping ring and the threaded member or the connecting member · CPC title